
aass_!^|jr;t 



THE AVAGNER . RE-LNTERMENT, 

At Fort Plain, October 20, 1881. 



Johan Peter Wagner, born January 3, 1722, the son of Peter 
Wagner, a very early pioneer of the Mohawk valley, after serving 
f or vears as a patriot in the Revolutionary struggle, at first under 
Sir William Johnson, and later under General Herkimer, and after 
having been engaged in the battle of Oriskany and most of the other 
prominent battles of the time and region, died full of years and 
honors, and was buried at Palatine in a cemetery on the Wagner 
farm now owned by J. Harvey Smith. His eldest son, also Johan 
Peter, and like his father known as colonel, was born November 6, 
1750, and died August 1, 1816, after a somewhat more quiet but 
hardly less useful life than his father's. He was buried by his side 
in the cemetery at Palatine. Some time ago it became necessary to 
take part of this old burying ground for a public purpose, and 
Jeptha R. Simms, the man of all in the Mohflwk valley most inter- 
ested in its historic events, called the matter to the attention of 
the Oneida Historical Society of Utica and suggested the eminent, 
propriety of reinterring the bodies of father and son in the 
beautiful cemetery at Fort Plain. The Historical society cordiallv 
took up the matter and determined to show proper honor to these 
two men, most worthy of themselves and as founders of one of 
the greatest families in the Mohawk valley. The plans arrano-ed. 
for the interesting event were carried through October 20 1881 
and the day will not soon be forgotten by people in the region 
most interested. 

Two special cars were attached at Utica to the 10 a. m. train, to 
take the members of the Historical society and the military escort 
from Utica to Fort Plain, and they were well filled. The society 
was represented by its vice-president, Hon. C. W. Hutchinson, 
the chairman of the executive committee, John F. Seymour, the 
secretary, S. N. D. North, Dr. I. S. Hartley, Dr. A. G. Brower, 
Leroy F. Shattuck, Dr. Charles B. Foster, J. V. II. Scovil, Dr. 
Edwin Hutchinson, Dr. Douglass, Max Lehmanu and others. 






■tABdOst 



146 THIO WAGNEK UK-INTERMENT. 

General Deriii.K was represented by a detailed statt' consisting of 
Major Sherrill, INIajor Pomeroy and Captains Eaton and Spriggs. 
The Utica Citizens' Corps was represented by Major Everts and 
bis statt", Lieutenant J>agg, Lieutenant Gillniore, Lieutenant 
Munson, Chaplain Gardner, Surgeon West and Lieutenants Storrs, 
Kincaid, ^NfeQuade, Coggeshall and Stevens. The Hutchinson 
Light Guards, Company J>, of the Twenty-sixtli battalion, in 
command of Captain John W. Gossin, acted as military escort, and 
was accompanied by the battalion band. General C. W. Darlino-, 
as chairman of the committee of arrangements for the Utica pi*ty^ 
was in command for the day, and was accompanied by General 
W. H. Christian, also a member of the committee. 

On arriving at Fort Plain, the party was met at the depot by 
Jeptha 11. Sinnns, AVilliam Clark, Rev. Dr. Woi-tman, Dr. Morgan 
Snyder, Horace L. Greene, Hon. Webster Wagner, John B. 
Haslett and Simeon Tingue, the Fort Plain executive committee, 
and a procession was formed, President Hutchinson marching in 
front with the members of the executive committee, followed by 
the Historical society and the Military. Two hearses bore the 
bodies of the Revolutionary hero and his son, a guard of honor 
marching with each. Arriving at the Reformed Dutch church, 
Rev. Dr. Wortman's, all entered, and, with the people from th& 
town, it was comfortably filled. 

J. R. SiMMs' Address. 

After the reading of the ninety-first Psalm by Rev. G. L. Roof, 
D. D., of Troy, J. R. Simms delivered the address of welcome, in 
Mhich he showed the appropriateness of such a ceremony taking 
place on the day selected. He said : 

In behalf of the Fort Plain committee of reception on this 
interesting occasion, I take great pleasure in welcoming to our 
village this delegation of the Oneida Historical Society and its 
friends and escort, who have come hither on a sacred and 
commendable enterprise, to wit : — the re-interment in a more 
"befitting place, of the remains of some of our heroic pioneer 
settlers. 

The time chosen for this ceremony seems a very proper one, 
since we are in the midst of a galaxy of most interesting 
centennial events. One hundred years ago yesterday, at York- 
town, Va., the British lion crouched beneath the American eagle. 
One hundred and one years ago yesterday, was fought in the 



J. K. SIMM's ADDKKSS. 147 

adjoining town of Piilatiiio, scarcely three miles distant, the battle 
of Stone Arabia ; in which tlic interpid and brave Colonel Brown, 
borne down by overwhelming numbers of the enemy under Sir 
John Johnson, fell a most generous and willing martyr to the 
cause of civil liberty. One hundred years ago next Tuesday^ 
occurred the battle of Johnstown, between the Americans under 
the daring Willet and the British, tories and Indians under T>Iajor 
Rose, in which the. latter were defeated ; and three days after, far 
up the West Canada creek, a just retribution for his damning 
deeds, sealed the fate of the infamous Walter Butler. 

It were impossible on this occasion to notice even a few of the 
many thrilling and important events which transpired in the 
Mohawk valley, after the bloody battle at Oriskany, in which the 
patriots whose memoiy we now honor took an interesting part.- 
But I may say that some of the most unique and noteworthy 
incidents that ever occurred in any place or age, transpired in the 
Mohawk river settlements during our seven years' war for the 
establishment of civil liberty. Many Avere the hair-breath escapes 
from the stealthy tory and Indian foeman; while many, very 
many representatives of families decimated by the tomhawk and 
scalping-knife, were conveyed at the end of liulian tump-lines 
through the unbroken wilderness, who, after suffering incredible 
hardships, were incarcerated for months — yes, for years, in 
Canadian prisons. Montgomery, Herkimer and Fulton counties 
were rife with such scenes of carnage and blood. I can not linger 
to single them out, but will barely make allusion to one of the 
most sanguinary. 

About the 1st of July, 1781, Captain Solomon Woodworth, of 
the Johnstown settlements, a very brave partisan officer, went on 
his first expedition with his new command, in search of the 
foeman. Without awaiting breakfast, with a lunch in their 
knapsacks, himself with his command of forty brave men and six 
Oneida Indians, moved in the early morning from Fort Dayton up 
the West Canada creek, and was at the end of a few hours drawn 
into a defile — surrounded, and his command nearly all slain or 
captured. Twenty-five of his men, including himself, were the 
next day buried in one grave, a few miles from Eaton's corners, 
by Captain Putman and another company of rangers, then at 
Fort Dayton. But I can assure the hearer that a thousand and 
one of the startling and blood-curdling events, which transpired 
in the war on this then frontier of civilization, will, as I trust, ere 
long be published for their amusement and consideration. 



148 THE WAGNER RE-INTERMENT. 

I repeat, this is a befitting time to honor the memory and deeds 
of known patriots; and that country will be found the moat 
prosperous and happy which properly cherishes and perpetuates 
the memory of its heroic ancestry, whether in words or on endur- 
iu<T marble. But I can not trespass upon time, as I anticipate that 
a rich feast of words is in store for us. 

Again I say to our distinguished guests — you are thrice welcome 
to the hospitality of the village of Fort Plain. 

Rev. Dr. Wortman stated that it had seemed to him becoming 
that the music should belong to the period in which the men to 
be reinterred belonged, and the choir would sing '* The Dying 
Christian" to an old tune. This was performed with considerable 
spirit and with a similar lugubrious strain, sung later, formed a 
complete demonstration to the audience that church music has 
immensely improved within a half century. Dr. Isaac S. Hartley 
offered prayer, beseeching heaven that the liberty for which these 
men fought and labored, might continue always to bless their 
descendants. 

Peter G. Webster, of Fort Plain, being introduced made a brief 
speech, thanking the Historical Society for its assistance, and the 
TJtica Citizens' Corps and the military escort for their kind 
attendance. Mr. Webster connected the historic events which the 
day commemorated with the great rebellion, and called to mind 
the bravery shown by Utica soldiers and the readiness with which 
they and their comrades through the Mohawk valley took up their 
arms in defense of the country. Mr. Webster strongly com- 
mended every effort to bring to the minds of the present and of 
future generations the noble deeds done by their fathers. He 
spoke with feeling and force, and in closing, read a portion of a 
speech which he delivered on a similar occasion many years ago. 

Rev. De. Wortman's Address. 

After Mr. Webster, Rev. Dennis Wortman, D. D., spoke with 
force and appropriateness: We stand to-day upon liistoric ground. 
From the point where the dust of the old Revolutionary soldiers 
shall henceforth repose, we may gaze well about us in every 
direction, over valley and hill, and nowhere may v/e tui-n our 
eyes but they behold some spot associated with Revolutionary 



ADDKKSS OF HON. C. W. IIUTCIIIN.>OX. 149 

sufforini; or luToisin, or even pie-Ilcvolutionary history. Ilorc 
tlie okl fort stood wlieiice this town derives its name, called first 
Fort Plain, and afterwards Fort Rensselaer. Yonder, fnrther on, 
the old church and the graveyard where, during and before that 
ei)Ocli, the living W()rshij>i)ed and the dead were buried. Some 
two miles further, and across the river, near Palatine church 
stood old Fort Wagner, home and fortress both — ;iust as now and 
evermore the home is the diviutly protected fortress of our national 
virtue, integrity and strength. It stands yet, a strong stone house, 
that stood in those olden days as a protection against the foe. 
Skirting off well to the right, a few miles, you can see the old 
church of Stone Arabia, its predecessor burned a hundred years last 
October, while many of the people all about were massacred. Fur- 
ther to the right still, near Palatine Bridge, you come upon the 
battle grounil to which our veteran Fort Plain historian, Mr. Simms, 
lias alluded, the battle ground v.here, under Colonel l>rown, the 
Stone Arabians resisted so courageously the tory and Indian bands. 
Off toward the southwest the eye passes beyond Forts Clyde, Fail- 
ing, Fhle and the Fort Kenssclaer of Canajoh-.irie on to the village 
of Currytown that was destroyed ; and, yet fnrther, to Cherry Vajr 
ley, almost half of whose ])oi)ulation were killed or captured by the 
brutal Butler, Brant being at that massacre, but an unwilling and 
protesting participant. I say it is historic ground. It has a pre- 
Revolutionary interest. All this valley teemed with a vigorous 
Indian population, one of the most powerful tribes on the 
continent. Their bones and imi)lements of war seem so abundant 
as almost to make an Indian cemetery of many of these hillsides, 
while out beyond Ephratah a score of mounds indicate even a 
possibly pre-Indiati occupation. Still, above all else, this is 
Revolutionary ground. In view of all hardships then endured in 
this whole region, I have accustomed myself to call it the very 
Shenandoah valley of that immortal conilict. 

» Xot inappropriate were it then for us to gather here at this 
time to call up the memories of those days to localize and fix this 
valley history; to bring to the thoughts of our present and fast 
passing times the dangers and the heroisms of those days and 
gather therefrom fresh inspiration for our work and welfare of 
to-day. Not the less fitting does it become because we are able to 
localize these matters about the life of one who had a considerable 
prominence in the affairs of that time, and who was the honored 
ancestor of so many honored descendants who abide among us to 
this day. Meanwhile, a more beneficent use shall we make of 



150 THE WAGNEK RE-INTEEMENT. 

this occasion, if we be thereby inspired to move out unto a higher 
nobleness and a thorougher manliood. This, too, is a historic 
time — or shall be, if we so choose to make it. The Indians are no 
longer here. The tories arc dead. The Kevolntion is past. But 
there still are foes to fight, errors to subdue, holy truths and prin- 
ciples to establish, grand victories to gain, honors to achieve, 
divine purposes to serve. 

Ours is the heroism that made our fathers illustrious ! Ours 
the fortitude that carried them to victory ! And whether, a hund- 
red years from now, the place of our burial is known, or utterly 
forgotten, may the goodness we shall have done be buried in 
many hearts, and in many lives make itself manifest in glad and 
everlastingly recurring resurrections. 

He reminded his audience that they were seated in a church 
which stood on the spot where was the original Reformed Dutch 
church, w^hich stood in the time of the Wagners. He showed, too, 
the original deed for the church lot, a very old document, 
"gnawed by other teeth than those of time," and which but lately 
came into his possession. In concluding, Dr. Wortman gave the 
Historical Society a cannon ball found on the battlefield of Stone 
Arabia, one of the few relics in his possession belonging to that 
period. Dr. Wortman expressed pleasure at being able to introduce 
"the orator of the occasion, Hon. Charles W^. Hutchinson, the 
energetic and accomplished vice-president of the Oneida Historical 
Society." 

Address of Hon. C. W. Hutchinson. 

Mr Hutchinson having expressed the thanks of his society for 
the relic given it, spoke as follows: 

We are here assembled in the heart of the Mohawk valley, to 
pay proper tribute of respect to the memory of two individuals 
whose influence upon its history, and whose civic and military 
service during the troublous times of our Revolutionary war arc 
deserving proper recognition. Circumstances having necessitated 
the removal of their remains from their burifd place upon lands 
so long in the possession of the family, to a fitting spot in your 
beautiful cemetery overlooking those lands so many years their 
home. This day being so near tiie anniversary of the battle of 
Johnstown, with whicli their name is connected, make the cere- 
monies of this occasion unusually impressive. It appeals to our 
patriotism by recalling the history of the first settlement of this 



ADDRESS OF HON. C. W. HUTCHINSON. 151 

valley by the Palatinates, and their noble Christian and patriotic 
deeds, of which, after a lapse of over a century, in a clear and 
undoubted record, has been preserved, and it is to be hoped that a 
more personal history will soon be written to perpetuate and record 
in a fitting manner the story of the lives and saci'ifices of these 
early patriots, to whose sturdy character and invincible energy, 
we to such crreat extent owe the civil and rclis;ious freedom we 
now enjoy. And it is properly a public duty, for at this time, in 
the sixth generation the trace of family lineage is so slight, and 
became so dittused by collateral connection, that any tribute to 
their memory should be in tlie broadest sense public in its char- 
acter. 

In casually tracing at this time the lineage of some of the 
Palatine families, there are found at present to be between one 
and two thousand descendants in a single family line, and in the 
period of one hundred and sixty years the blood of the Palat- 
inates permeates the veins of whole communities from Schenectady 
to "the crossing of the old ford" at Utica, called by the Indians 
Yah-nun-dah-sis. 

In addressing you, therefore, we feel that any new fact which 
may be presented relating to the personal and historic events 
which have taken place in the valley of Mohawk should be 
received with interest. 

The story of a man's life is usually written in the water. At 
his death a moment's troubled surface, then all becomes placid as 
before, and in a few years all memory of him except perhaps his 
name, or a record of his good deeds has passed into oblivion 
forever. 

But the history of each individual of tlie early settlers of this 
section stands out boldly in striking contrast. Their lives were 
constant struggles against opposing forces and adverse circum- 
stances, but v/hich brought out persistent determination of 
purpose, unity of ideas, and the closest harmony in united action, 
when a result was to be attained for a religious or a patriotic 
purpose. 

The two Palatinate families of Johan Peter Wagner and William 
Fox removed from Schoharie to the Mohawk valley, about the year 
A. D. 1723, and settled in the town of Palatliue, near Palatine 
church some two miles v/est of this village. Fox settling on the 
easterly side of the Garoga creek (a part of which is now known as 
the Newkirk farm), and Wagner settling about a half-mile easterly 
of the creek (a part of which is now occupied by Harvey Smith 



152 THE WAGNER KE-INTEKMENT. 

and Channecy Wagner.) The lands occupied extending from the 
Mohawk river several miles northerly. We find from the 
copy of the original deed that John Conrad Wiser, Jr., Jan 
Jacokop, John Jost Peters, Conrad Rigarts, Nicholas Fuller, 
Henry Mayor, Angcrian Smith, Rutles Raving, I*eter Spice, Peter 
Waggoner, Peter Conneaskern and Jacob Warynoo, all high 
Dutchmen or Palatines, took a deed from the five nations by 
their sachems, dated July. 9, 1722, of the land beginning at 
Ostenrogen, or the first carrying place to the westerly end of it, 
to Gauerdagavien, being, about twenty-four English miles upon 
both sides of the Mohagus river. 

And this is the first recorded mention of this branch of the Wag- 
ner family. The traditional and subscfpient history I now note. 

Joiian Peter Wagner, the Palatine and ancestral head of this 
family, was born at Brauusback, in Wirtemburg, October 4, 1G87. 
He was married with Maria Elizabetha Laucs, who was born at 
Oehringen in 1686. They emigrated to America 1709 and settled 
at New Paltz, Ulster county, and afterwards, in the year 1714, 
removed to Schoharie county where they remained until their 
settlement at Palatine in 1723. About the year 1750 he built his 
residence the old stone dwelling, (now standing and in a good state 
of preservation.) It was quite similar in style with the well known 
houses of Frey, Ehle, Van Alstine, and Wormouth, which were 
erected about the same ])eriod. 

This Wagner house is said to be the oldest house now standing 
in the State of New York, west of Fort Plain. In early times, and 
during the wars, it was stockaded and was known as Fort 
Waggoner, and a block house was said to have been situated 
some fifty feet southeasterly of the dwelling, and that some of its 
timbers are still in the barn buildings on the farm. And a part 
of the old foundation still remains. 

On the Wagner farm in the rear of this house is a ])eculiar range 
of hills, called by the German settlers the Steilcr-JJcn/ or steep hill, 
ranging east to west for about half a mile. These hills, on excava- 
tion, are found to contain Indian relics of the prc-historic period, 
and recent discovery has opened two burial grounds of difterent 
generations of the tribes. 

It was upon one of the most prominent of these hills that the 
old burying ground of the early settlers of this ])ortion of Pala- 
tine was situated ; a very few graves having inscribed tablets, 
hundreds being mari<ed Avith two rough stones, without other 
mark or record. 



ADDRESS OF HON. C. AV. inTClIIXSOX. 153 

Colonel W:i;j:iior's fnniily consisted of eiojht children, :is follows: 

Anna Murgaretlui, horn April Jo, 1712; niarried Ileinrlch 
Til len beck. 

Maria Catliarina, born August 18, 1714; married Georg Kosner. 

Utilia, born Angust 10, 1710; married Isaac Kelt. 

Catliarina Elizabetliu, born September 10, 171S; married Johan 
Georg Stockencliild. 

:Maria Ma.udalena, born Jannary 4, 1720; married John Failing. 

Johan Peter, born Jainiary S, 1722; married Ixirbara Elizabetha 
Dockstader. 

Martha Elizal)etlia, born January 24, 1724; married (ieorg 
Saltsman. 

Colonel Peter Waj^ner, died :May 23, 1813, aged ninety-one 
years, four months and nineteen days. And the following receipt 
is still ])reserved : 

Pai.antine, 29 May, 1813. 

Received of Colonel Pe*er Waggoner nine dollars in full for six gallons of 
Tura for tlie berriing of old Colonel Peter Waggoner. 

L3:12 0. J- Whekler. 

This Johan Peter, was the only son of his father the pioneer. 
He was generally known as Colonel Wagner. And herewith we 
copy from the records, of the Evangelical Lutheran German con- 
gregation in Stone Arabia and translated from the original 
German, the following record: 

The Mr. Colonel Johan Peter Wagoner was bom 8th of January, 1723. 

Tlie godfathers were Peter Knieskerken, Gottfried Fiedler, Maria Lies 

Knieskerken, [Free]. 

Stone Arabia, March 3, 1811. 

Peteu WiLHEi.>r, Donieier. 

He was married with Maria Elizabetha Dockstader in the year 
1750. They had nine children, namely: Johan Peter, Johan 
Georg, Elizabetha, ]Maria Margaretha, Johan Joseph, Johan 
William, Catharine, and Helen or Laney. And it is to the 
memory of Colonel Johan Peter Wagner and of his eldest son 
also named Johan Peter, and of their remains we are now paying 
this tribute of resjiect and Christian duty. 

Upon their graves no evanescent flowers are laid; a crown of 
laurels is the fitting tribute to the record of their lives, a brief 
resume of whicli connected with public events I shall now partially 
present. 

The first j)ublic record of Colonel Wagner is his commission as 
second lieutenant in the second battalion of the county of Albany, 



154 THE WAGNER RE-INTERMENT. 

which was under the command of Sir William Johnson. It is 
dated August 25, A. D. 1748, and is signed by George Clinton, 
the colonial governor. lie was undoubteilly engaged in the 
Frcncli r.nd Indian war of 175G. 

Tiie colonel was a staunch patriot during the licvolutionary war, 
and unswerving in his devotion to the cause of his country. Ue 
"was one of the committee of safety for Tryon county, and was 
present as a delegate from the Palatine district at its first meetiTig 
held at the house of Adam Loucks, at Stone Arabia, August 27, 
1774. 

There being present Christopher Yates, chairman, Peter Wag- 
goner, Isaac Paris, John Frey, Jacob Klock, Andrew Fink, jr., 
Christopher W. P^'ox, George Ecker, jr., Andrew Kecber, Daniel 
McDougle and Anthony Van Fecliten. 

And he is also recorded as being present at the first general 
meeting of the committee in the Canajoharie district, held June 2, 
1775, at the house of Werner Tygert, near the upper Indian Castle. 

Colonel Wagner was engaged in the battle of Oriskany and 
held the position of lieutenant colonel of the second battalion 
from the Palatine district, of which Jacob Klock was colonel. 
His oldest son, Johan Peter, was second lieutenant in tlie first 
company of this regiment, and his second son, Joluui Georg, was a 
volunteer in his command ; the latter, was wounded in the forearm 
by a bullet, and on account of it received a pension. Josei)h another 
son ran away from home and joined the command at the German 
Flatts, but being only sixteen years of age and the only son old 
enough to afford any protection to the family, his father j)r()mptly 
sent him back to look after the women and chiidren. 

Lieutenant Colonel Wagner, it is said, took command of the 
first battalion of the Canajoharie district at the battle of 
Oriskany, which was under the command of Colonel Ebenezer 
Cox, after General Herkimer, who was its first colonel, was 
wounded. He was also one of the grand jury at the first 
court of quarter sessions under the new State Government held 
at Johnstown September s, 1788, and represented Ins district as a 
Member of Assembly at the second, third and fourth sessions, in 
the years 1777, 1778, 177f», 1"8(), 1781. 

A reference to some of the local historj' of this portion of the 
State may interest some of those here assembled. Those lands 
upon the south side of the river were in the possession of the 
Mohawks, whose easterly or lower Castle was called by them. 
Te-ah-ton-tii-lo-ga, situated near F'ort Hunter. The westerly or 



ADDRESS OF HON. C. W. HUTCHINSON. 155 

upper Castle was called Ga-ne-ga-liti-ga, and was situate on the east 
bank of the Hovv-a-da-ga creek in the town of Danube, some two 
miles easterly of the residence of General Nicholas Herkimer, and 
was the former residence of King IIiMidrick and Captain Joseph 
Brant. The village of Fort Phiin was called by the Iroquois 
Twa-da-ala-hala, "Tlie Fort on a Hill." The Mohawk Middle 
Castle being situate on the easterly bank of the O-squil-go creek 
overlooking the viUage, and was called (ia-na-jo-hi-e, and was the 
junction of the great Central and Susquehanna Indian trails. 

Here, near the Keformed German Church, familiarly known to 
you as the Sand Hill Church, lived the Indian trader John Abeel, 
who married for his first wife the daughter of a Seneca Sacliem, 
and whose sons were Teh-wun-yars, who was one of the fifty 
hereditary Sachem of the Iroquois, and was the leading military 
Sachem of the Confederacy; and Gy-ant-wil-ka, John (Abeel), the 
Cornplanter, the great war chief, and their half brother by Indian 
lineage was Ga-ne-o-di-yo, "The Prophet." It was during the 
invasion of the tories and regulars, under the command of Colonel 
John Johnson, and the Indians, under the commands of the Chiefs 
Tha-yen-da-ne-gea and Gy-ant-wii-ka, in August the year of 1780, 
that the Indians took John Abeel prisoner and burned his residence 
and other buildins:^, but his son soon released him and sent his 
father with an escort safely home. Abeel's daughter Maria, by his 
second wife, married Joseph Wagner, who resided in the old Paris 
mansion in this village for mau}^ years. 

The following correspondence, taken from the originals still in 
the possession of the family, relating to these incursions just 
mentioned are of historic interest, and while curious in style, they 
are imbued with a spirit of rare force and determination in their 
quaint expression. 

Palatixe, May 2Sth, 1780. 
A Return for Amunitiou for the mca wliicli are gethered at the house of 
George Klock — 13 men. 

Sir Col. Klock desired me to call upon you for Amuiiition, as you had 
trawn for all the men in his Heg't living upwards from Fox's. Remain 

Sir your Humble Servt, 
To Col. Peter Waggoner. Jacob G.' Klock. 

PAL.vriNE, 36 .June, 1789. 
Sir, 1 do not doubt but you know that our scout made a discovery of the 
Enemy this afternoon near our Quarters. I Emediately on the endeligence 
Bend a few lines to Col Clyde Informing him of the aproge of the Enemy, 
and also desired some Assistance of him, he Emediately send 18 men which 
arrived here. 



156 THE WAGNKR RE-INTERMENT, 

('apt Diffendorf with liis Company Lise at Cox's, which wo send for to 
come over this Evening, now I desire you woukl send all the yung abble 
men to-morrow by day brack from all the forts from you up. In order to 
duni out at day braek to attack the Enemy, as all the men here mean to durn 
out if we could be Leetle more Ranforced. I should he glad if you desire 
Col Klock to send some men from Stoneraby also. No more as Remain 

Sir your most Humble servt 
Col Waggoner Jacob G. Kiahk. 

FoitT Paris July 13 1780 
Sir pleas to order twelve of the smartest men that you have in the dif- 
ferent forts under your command to Joyn Capt John Cassalms Company with 
four days provition with the quickest dispatch 

from your friend and humble servant 
To Lt Col Waggoner. Jacob Kixkk Coll 

FoBT Pabis, June 5, 1781. 
Sir: I this moment received a letter from the commanding officer at Johns- 
town, that the enemy have yesterday taken several ])risoners and burnt some 
buildings in those quarters, and it is thought by him that they will make a 
stroke either at Stoneraby or else up the river, the enemy is sixty or seventy 
Ftrong you '11 give notice to all the Posts up above without a moment's delay. 
I am your 

To Cols. Klock and Waggoner. Peteb S. Dygebt, Major. 

FoBT Paris, Sept. 9, 1781. 
Dr. Col: I received your order and did according to it. I have ordered 
every man, except yours namely John Shull's Adam Loux, Valentine Freligh 
and Henry Becker, whom I have kept for scouts. I am 

Dr. Col. your verj'hbl servt 
To Col Waggoner. Seprinus Klock, Capt. 

iiieutenant Johan Peter Wagner, the oldest son of Colonel Wag- 
ner, and afterwards also a colonel was a fittinf^ scion of the sturdy 
old Dutch stock of his ancestry. He was boni November G, 1750, 
and his wife Nancy Bell was born in the year 1759. They were 
married in 1782 and had a family of nine children. He died at 
Palatine, August 1, 1816 at the age of sixty-seven years. He was 
ap])ointed by General I^icholas Herkimer a special commissioner 
to confer with Captain Joseph Brant at the Unadilla conference in 
July, 1777, and as heretofore mentioned was second lieutenant in 
the first company of the regim(!nt commanded by Colonel Klock, 
at the battle of Oriskany, He with his brothers Johan (xcorg, 
Johan Joseph, William and Johan appear nlso to have been 
engaged in several skirmishes in this portion of the valley, particu- 
larly that of Fo.k's ^lills, situate some eight miles west of this 
village, where Sir John Johnson with his Tories and Indians 
had thrown up a small breast work, and awaited the approach of 
General Van Rensselaer and his militia. The Indians were fii'St 



ADDKKSS OF HON. c. w. irrTriiiNsox. 157 

driven from tlicir posiiion, and the works of the enemy would 
have been earried, wlien ai)|):ireiitly without reason Van Rensse- 
laer ordered his troops to fall hack a niilc and encamp. The 
youn<j: Waijners with many otiiers of the youn<» jnen indiijjnant at 
tlie order ri'fused to retreat and remained on tlie oroiiud takinjr 
many piisoners dnriiiu^ the nit^ht. In civil life we tiiid the namo 
of Lieutenant Wa<j;iier a member from the Palatine distiiet in the 
convention of ISOl, over which Aaron Ijurr presided. There is 
also preserved a record of some of the generous gifts of the two 
Colonels Wagner for public and religious purposes, to which 
allusion is pro))er. 

The old stone Lutheran church at Palatine was erected Ai^gust 
18, 17 To. Ilenrich Nellis gave a deed for the land necessary. 
The title being made to Colonel Peter Wagner, Andrew Reeber 
and John P^iseidord, churchwardens, January 2, 1 709, and Peter 
Wagner, Andrew Reeber and Christian Nellis, Jr., w^ere bowraast- 
ers in charge of the erection of the church. Colonel Wagner 
subscribing for that ])urpose £100, ^Nfr. Reeber the same amount 
and Mr. Nellis giving £50, and his family are recorded as giving 
.for the support of tlie minister, in the year 1797, as follows: 

Peter Wagner, Sr., £1.4.0. George Wagner, £1.12.0, Peter 
Wagner, Jr., £1.04.0, John AVagner £1.04.0, Joseph Wagner 
£1.12.0, and the name of Joseph Wagner who was a member of 
assembly at the 29th session in ISOG, is engraved upon the church 
bell, and the following receipt is still preserved: 

To Colonel Peter Wngtier, Jr : 

Sir — Be ])lcased to ])ay unto Thomas Day or ordor the sum of eight pounds 
in behalf of Elihu Hall, which, when paid, will be in full for your subscrip- 
tion money you subscribed towards building Union Academy at Stone Arabia. 

Stone Arabia, the 12th December. 1797. Andrew Finch. 

This occasion also recalls to the memory of a grateful people the 
names of other patriots of the Mohawdc Valley : Herkimer, Brown, 
Cox, Clyde, Visscher, Fonda, Snell, Frey, Uygert, Yates, Fink, 
Paris, Van Home, Sammonds, Veeder, McDougle, Van Vechten, 
Klock, Kcker, Campbell, Diefendoff, Petry, Fox, Staring, Bellinger 
Timmerman and others. 

The patriotic devotion of these men should be more closely 
studied by the present generation, and the monument at Oriskany, 
Boon to be erected, is a fitting tribute to the memory of those who 
flo nobly acted during times of savage allied Indian and tory 
invasion in the Valley of the Mohawk. They were almost undis- 
ciplined, atul inadequately armed, taking all their sons able to 



158 THE WAGNER llE-INTEKME>iT. 

carry arms, marcliod through the unbroken forest to meet St. Leger 
and his disciplined army and its savage allies. Their arms were 
victorious, the invaders repulsed, and their righteous cause, con- 
tending for civil and religions freedom, was crowned with success. 

These heroic men liad all most dear to life i)ledged upon the suc- 
cess of their arras, and stood in the ranks by the side of their sons, 
in defense of their cause. Members of the committee of safety car- 
ried muskets as privates, and four of them of great prominence iu 
public life, namely: Col. Isaac Paris, Samuel liillington, John 
Dygert and Jacob Snell were killed at Oriskany. Had they failed,, 
in their patriotic ettbrts their homes would have been devastated,, 
their property forfeited, and the lives of their wives and families 
left to the brutal mercy of a ruthless enemy. 

In thus cursorily recalling your attention to these events of the 
early history of this valley in which these ])atriots were such 
active participants, if an increased interest in this subject has 
been produced in tite minds of any who will now determine to 
collect and ]<roperly preserve in fitting places records ;iud docu- 
ments of historic interest, then these exercises will have wrought a 
fitting work and beneficent result. It was your distinguished 
historian and townsman, Jeptha R. Sinims, Esq., who first sug- 
gested the necessity and projjriety of this day's services. His life 
has been spent in a labor of love recording the history of the 
Mohawk Valley and of the early patriots. To his exertions the 
public ovre one-tenth of the sum subscribed by individuals for the 
monument at Oriskany. And his life work of history should be 
conspicuously placed in the home of every descendant of the 
patriots of the Revolution. In order that the history of their 
early struggles may bi' recalled to the minds of yoiir children that 
they be taught to emulate the heroism and noble character of these 
men to whose deeds and acts you owe all most dear to numkind, 
the enjoyment of free institutions antl a government of the people. 

The chairman introducing John F. Sv'ymour, of Utica, he read 
the following letter from his brother, Hon. Horatio Seymour, the 
president of the Historical Society, who, to the regret of all, was 

un;ible to be present : 

Utica, Oct. 19, 1881. 

DliAH SiK: I am sorry I^can not g<j to Fort Plaiu to attend the ceremonie& 

at the re-interinent of the remains of Colonel Wagner. I am glad the 

people of the Mohawk valley are waking up to their duties and oblijjations 

to the memories of the brave and patriotic men who were once the defeudera 



ADDRESS OF HON. C. VV. IIUTCIHNSON. 159 

of this region. A discredit now rests upon its inhabitants for their neglect. 
Elsewhere the pejjile would be eager to give an interest to their homes in the 
eyes of the American people by marking and making known tlie spots which 
are connected with interesting events of American history. Those of the 
Mohawk valley surpass in interest and lilstoric value the events of sections, 
whose people have piously and carefully i)reserved the histories of their 
fathers. I trust the work of putting up monuments and preserving history 
has now begun, and that the re*proach resting upon our citizens will be 
removed, and that the descendants of these brave men of the Revolution 
will not permit strangers of other races and blood to do them honor. 

Very truly yours, 
Hon. J. R. Simms. IIohatio Skymour. 

The cliairman introduced his friend Kev. G. L. Koof, whose 
father gave to Canajohavie its former name of Roofville. Mr. 
Koof spoke of his ])nde in bein*:; a native of Montfljornei-y county 
and in having had one relative who took part in the battle 
of Oriskauy and another who was with General Herkimer when 
he died. Mr. Roof made a pleasant speech and expressed his con- 
viction that the future of the country was to fulfil those words of 
Daniel Webster, beginning. "Liberty and Union, Now and 
Forever, One and Inseparable," words which did the speaker 
more credit even than all his great orations on the interpretation 
of the Constitution. The exercises at the church closed with the 
doxology. 

Forming again the ])rocession moved to the cemetery, in one of 
the most beautiful and sightly spots of which the bodies were laid 
in their final resting places. From that point, which is high 
above the town and the valley, the observer can see the spot, 
three miles or more away, from which the bodies w?re taken, and 
turning around, his eye falls on many of the places of most 
interest to the father and the son, when they were alive. No 
better plnce could have been found. Rev. Ciiarles H. Gai-d- 
ner, Rector of Trinity Church, Utica, the Chaplain, offered a 
fervent pniyer at the grave, and the coffins were lowered side by 
side, the military escort firing last volleys. 

It was now two o'clock or after, and the guests were glad to 
accept a cordial invitation to refreshment at the Fritcher Opera 
House. The bountiful lunch, kindly provided by some of the 
residents of the town, was served by its youth and beauty. 
The Utica ])arty reached home about half-past six. 









Fg '06 



